Hame-hook.



Patented June 5, |900i E. PLUMHVOFF.

HAMEHOUK.

' t filed Mar. 7, 1900 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD PLUMHOFF, OF WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS.

HAM E-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,270, dated J une 5, 1900.

Application iiled March 7| 1900. Serial No. 7,6 75. (No model.)

To @ZZ wtmn it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD PLUMHOFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at W'axahachie, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, have invented anew and useful Hame- I-Iook, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to llame-hooks; and the object of the same is to produce a device of this character having a strong and durable construction, that may be quickly and easily applied to a harness-hame at either side, and to and from which a trace may be easily connected and detached. Y

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more f ully hereinafter described and claimed. i

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a haine, showing the improved hook applied thereto in operative position. Fig. 2 is va detail perspective viewof the hook, shown detached and open. Fig. 3 is au elevation of the hook, showing the members fully open and in position for application to or detachment from the haine-staple or analogous device.

Similar n umerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate the lnembers of the improved device, each of which comprises a hook 3 and 4 and an intermediate body 5 and G. The hook 3 is positioned reversely to the hook 4, and the latter has a lower rear throat 7 and the formera closinglug 8 of a length approximately equal to and adapted to snugly fit within the said throat. The upper edge of the lug 8 is continued in the same arc as the interior wall of the opening of the hook 3, and the inner opposing faces of the said hooks are flat and closely joined when pressed together, as shown by Fig. 1, and to form a circular eye, for a purpose which will presently be set forth.

The body 6 of the hook 4 has the extremity thereof opposite the hook provided with a pair of open knuckles 9 and 10, which are separated by a transversely-extending horizontal slot and also partially by a seat-channel 11, extending longitudinally through the inner side of the body to the rear limitof the hook 4. The open portions of the knuckles 9 and l() are clearly shown by Fig. l, and be# tween the said knuckles is an open knuckle l2 on the extremity of-the body 5 opposite the location of the hook 1, the width and thickness of the said body being such as to permit it io snugly t in the channel 11 of the body 6 and produce a jiiush joint when the two members of the hook are closed, as shown by Fig. 1. By referring to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the lower edge of the body l has bearing` in its movement on the lower wall of the channel 11, and if the position of the hook be reversed the opposite edge and wall of the channel and the body will correspondingly operate, and thus the parts or members are prevented from separating when opened, as well as when engaging the vertical bar 13 of the haine-staple 14. In order to have a flush assemblage of the meinbers of the hooks when closed, the forward upper portion of thebodyG adjacentthe hook 4 is formed with an inclined shoulder 15, against which the terminal of the hook l snugly bears and makes a flush joint with the adjacent part of the said body 6. In like manner the terminal of the hook 2 lits snugly against the one end of the lug S when the members are closely arranged, as shown by Fig. 1, and thus the entire device is con structed without lateral projection.

In attaching the hook to a haine the members are thrown open, as shown by Fig. 3, so that all the openings of the knuckles -9, 12, and 10 will be in accurate alinement. When in this position, the parts are held against accidental separation and simultaneously applied over the vertical bar 13 of the hamestaple 14 and the member 1 turned to the position shown by Fig. 2, thereby bringing the open portion of its knuckle I2 around at such an angle as to prevent accidental detachment or disengagement of the hook from the hamesfaple. In operating the hook to apply or detach the members the latter are never opened far enough to bring the open portion of the knuckle 12 in line with the similar portions of the knuckles 9 and 10, and a convenient hinge action is thus provided without liability of separation of the members. The improved hook by its construction is made cona venient for application to either haine with out requiring the manufacture of right and left devices, and the operation of applying a trace or tug to the improved device or removing the same therefrom isas follows:

In connecting the eye or advance link of'a tug or trace to the improved device said eye or link is rst passed over the terminal of the hook 3 and then moved downward to a position overthelng8,and thus permits both members of the hook to be drawn closely together and at the same time throws or guides the eye or link of the tug or trace through the throat 7 and to pass up over the hook 3, and when said eye or link engages both hooks the latter are prevented from accidentally separat ing or detaching the eye or link of the tug or trace. In separating the eye orlink of a tug or trace from the hook said eye or link is moved downwardly over the'lug and held, while the hook 3 is drawn away from the hook 4 and simultaneously moves the said eye or link of the tug or trace through the throat and permits disconnection from the hook 3.

It is proposed to makethe improved hamehook in various sizes and of suitable material, metal being preferred, and also to plate or otherwise ornament the same and to accommodate varioususes orapplicatious. Changes in the forms, proportions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing the salient features of the invention.

Having thus described the in vention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A llame-hook comprising two members having a sidewise opening and closing operation and each provided with a hook propel',

one hook having a throat through the lower portion, and the other hook formed with a lug movableiuto and from the said throat to make a iiush fitting of the two hooks when closed, the one member also having a channel to snugly receive the other member to form a close joint between said members.

2. A llame-hook comprising two side-opening members having hooks proper on one extremity of each, the opposite extremity of one member being provided with two open knuckles spaced apart from eachother, and the other member having its extremity opposite that on which the hook thereof is located provided with a single open knuckle movably embraced by the said two open knuckles, the open portions of all the knuckles being almed for application to and removal from a supporting device on a hame.

A haine-hook comprising two members having a sidewise opening and closing operation, the one member also having a pair of open knuckles and the other member a single open knuckle embraced by the said pair of knuckles, the hooks of the two members closely bearing against each other when joined and the member supporting the pair ol" knuckles provided with achannel to sn ugly receive the other member to make a flush tting of the parts.

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD PLUMIIOFF.

Witnesses:

S. H. THORNHILL, A. LAsswnLL. 

